"What you say
can affect how people perceive you," explains Brian de Haaf,
founder and CEO of Aha! in
a recent LinkedIn
post. "Ideally, the words you
use will elevate you and motivate those around you. They should
not hurt you or your relationships."

One word in particular that can seriously tarnish your
credibility (and one that the most successful people know better
than to use) is "honestly."

According to de Haaf, some people use this word to make a point,
but most times it will instead raise a red flag and make your
listeners question whether you're telling the truth.

"To be credible, you should be straightforward every time. And
when you are, no qualifier like 'honestly' is needed," he says.
"Authenticity is the only honesty you need."

De Haaf says "honestly" is also the most "damaging word in
business" because it creates distance.

Prefacing a statement with this word pushes people back, "making
it harder for them to get close and to see your point," he
explains. "This approach harms your own relationship-building,
let alone any argument that you are poised to make."

Words matter, a lot — but your integrity matters more, de Haaf
says. So don't compromise it by "creating the chasm of a bad
impression." Instead, draw people in by being earnest in your
interactions, he suggests.